A post titled 'You are nobody without the motherland' has gone viral on the Chinese internet in a definitely-not-astroturfed-in-any-way display of patriotic fervour.
The anonymous post first appeared online in mid-November but gained popularity in recent days following the ongoing spat in the East China Sea over the new Air Defence Identification Zone imposed by the Chinese government over the disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku islands.
The post called on every Chinese person to be on the alert for “Western anti-China powers”, which “could take advantage of social instability to harm Chinese people”.
“Proactively safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity must become the consensus of every citizen,” said the post.
The post criticised the US as “an initiator of plots” to overthrow the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and “create internal chaos” in China. “China became the biggest threat to the US after a collapse of the former Soviet Union. Their plots have long been known to all,” said the post.
“China would be in chaos if it lost the leadership of the CCP and this would be a catastrophe for the 1.3 billion Chinese people,” warned the post.
The post also praised the wisdom and capability of President Xi Jinping. “Though he has the blood of a princeling… he has the courage and know-how to capture ‘big tigers’,” said the post. Big tigers refer to corrupt high-ranking officials.
Isn't it incredible how this spontaneous display of patriotism perfectly parrots Communist Party talking points?! The Party truly does have the support of the people.
As author Yu Hua wrote in the New York Times this week, "when the distinction between country and ruler is erased, patriotism ends up being hijacked, and easily manipulated by a narrow-minded nationalism."
[Image via Flickr]
0 User Comments